Giovanni Francesco Bembo

Who is Giovanni Francesco Bembo?

Giovanni Francesco Bembo was an Italian Renaissance painter from Cremona, mainly active from 1515-1543. He apprenticed with Boccaccio Boccaccino. In 1515, he painted two frescoes: Presentation in the Temple and an Adoration of the Magi for the Duomo of Cremona. He painted in 1524, an altarpiece for San Pietro depicting a Madonna with three saints and a donor. In 1530, he painted a Madonna with Saint Stephen and in 1540, a Madonna with St. John the Baptist and a Bishop now in the Museo Civico.

He is supposed to have visited Rome, and thought to be identical with a painter who was there known as Vetriario. Other works in Cremona include in San Niccoló, a St. Nicholas with the Virgin and in San Pietro is a Madonna. His style recalls Fra Bartolommeo.

Giovanni Francesco or Gianfrancesco Bembo, was the nephew of Bonifazio Bembo, the son of Giovanni and brother of Lorenzo, all painters. Giovanni Francesco is said by Vasari to have worked in Rome for Pope Leo X.